It has been more than 30 years since she saw the vastness of the sea for the first time, but Maritza Landázuri from Colombia is still amazed by the number of creatures inhabiting it. The beauty of nature continues to surprise her every single day. She has always been amazed by the extreme coolness of the mangroves on hot days, the colourful sunsets or the infinity of the ocean.
Maritza was born and raised in a coastal area where Colombia borders Ecuador, where the ocean and mangrove forests have always been part of her home. The infinity of the ocean inspired her at the young age of 14 to start working with the people of the coastal town Bajo Mira y Frontera. Today, Maritza is the legal representative of the Bajo Mira y Frontera Community Council, an institution working for welfare of the region’s 10,000 inhabitants and the ecosystems they depend on. Safeguarding the natural wealth of the area is her life’s work.
What does the ocean mean to you?
When I sailed the ocean for the first time at the age of 12, I realised there was a lot more beyond the horizon than I had ever dreamed of. The sight of this infinite pool of water blew my mind. Since that moment, the ocean is where I can see the work of God.
“The roots of mangrove trees welcome and protect crabs, shellfish, birds and many other species. In mangrove forests everything is intertwined, everything depends on everything.”
On the ocean I feel at peace. Those moments give me the energy I need to continue protecting it. The ocean is not only the habitat of many species, like shrimp and fish that are important for the livelihood of my community, it is also home to many creatures we do not even know exist. They need people defending their home to ensure their future existence.
Another important place for me is a mangrove forest. The roots of mangrove trees welcome and protect crabs, shellfish, birds and many other species. In mangrove forests everything is intertwined, everything depends on everything.
When I enter a mangrove I feel it is communicating; it brings me to another dimension. I believe people can learn a lot from the interconnection of the elements of ecosystems. We should all learn from them. We humans are a strange species: we think individually, it is all about ourselves. Mangroves taught me that life is better if we consider others — not only other humans, but all species. These forests bring my clarity and inner peace.
How do you protect these ecosystems that are so important to you?
The territory I work in is around 46,000 hectares and has more than 10,000 inhabitants. An important part of my work as the legal representative of the Bajo Mira y Frontera Community Council concerns our relationship with the oceans and mangroves.
“Knowing that small fish were extracted by fishermen who could not sell or eat them because of their size, it was hard for me to see — these fish died for no reason.”
In the Council we focus on promoting sustainable fisheries, including the use of regulated fishing gear, temporary closures, and capturing adult fish and other species. We also work on educational and outreach activities, for example on the importance of mangroves and the protection from natural events like tsunamis.
Recently, I took a walk on the beach and saw a lot of very tiny fishes thrown away in the sand. Knowing that small fish were extracted by fishermen who could not sell or eat them because of their size, it was hard for me to see — these fish died for no reason. It symbolises a lack of knowledge about the impact our actions have on the ecosystems, which are our main source of food and income.
Many fishermen catch more fish than they should or need. Others catch undersized, juvenile fish, use prohibited gear, or dump garbage in the ocean. Another issue is cutting the mangrove trees that are of incredible value to our coastal life. All of these are great challenges, and they only confirm that we need to work together to overcome them.
In the Council, we defined a plan to restore our mangrove forests and primarily conserve the ones we still have in the area. The only way to achieve this is by increasing awareness about their importance and the wealth this ecosystem creates. We use scientific evidence provided by other organisations in these activities, but mainly base our communication and educational activities on ancestral, cultural and spiritual knowledge.
“We use scientific evidence provided by other organisations in these activities, but mainly base our communication and educational activities on ancestral, cultural and spiritual knowledge.”
What progress have you seen in your community?
Since the Cabo Manglares Bajo Mira y Frontera National Integrated Management District was created in 2017, our community has worked closely with different institutions including WWF-Colombia, National Natural Parks and the Colombian Navy. We also work together with local governments and fishermen’s organisations. Through these collaborations, we involve more people in the protection of ecosystems and species.
But we still have many challenges ahead. I dream for my community to live in a peaceful area, where our culture and essence as a Black community remain. I want us to live in a place where we have quality education and health services, a place where us Black women have all the recognition we deserve for the efforts we make for the well-being of our families, community and nature.
I dream of a place free from pollution, deforestation and overfishing. Where many people realise the creatures inhabiting the ocean must, like us, fulfil their life cycle on the planet and that this depends on us people. I dream of diving into the ocean one day to see everything I try to protect.
Header photo: Tatiana Rodríguez
It has been more than 30 years since she saw the vastness of the sea for the first time, but Maritza Landázuri from Colombia is still amazed by the number of creatures inhabiting it. The beauty of nature continues to surprise her every single day. She has always been amazed by the extreme coolness of the mangroves on hot days, the colourful sunsets or the infinity of the ocean.